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by jtreviewsplus

JTReviewsPlus and Life Update June 2022

Hello,

If you are reading this, then it’s been awhile since you have seen a post on this website or my other @JTReviewsPlus social media accounts in general.

I want to provide context as to why I haven’t been able to post for so long, why I originally created JTReviewsPlus in the first place, as well as talk about what I hope do in the future. I’ll do my best to keep it as brief and concise as I can.

And then he vanished…

I originally created JTReviewsPlus after one of my relatives recommended WordPress to me. It wasn’t until junior year of high school that I finally decided what I wanted to pursue in college, which was journalism (with an emphasis on entertainment of course). In order to get started early I decided to make a platform where I could practice my writing skills and share my opinions on things that I was passionate about. This felt like the right move for me because I had a lot of time on my hands, there were many incredible releases, and I wanted to become a better content creator.

JTReviewsPlus expanded, with the creation of my Youtube channel and my own Instagram of the same name. I managed to grow to over 4,000 followers with the help of one of my best friends. There I posted news as well as articles I published on this site. I got hundreds of likes per post and even connected with other content creators on Instagram. Things were going well but then I got distracted.

I went to city college for an extra year because I failed a class and had taken a wrong course for my first semester, I was also job searching like crazy, and when I did find a job it took up a lot of my time. Whenever I was free from work or school I didn’t get to write as much because I was already burnt out from all the studying and writing I did for my city college classes (it was stressful to say the least). I managed to still be somewhat active but toward the end of city college I became focused on transferring to a 4-year university. When I got my degree for transfer, I only cared about graduating from CSU Long Beach and making the most of my opportunity which is exactly what I did from 2019-2020. I joined a few clubs, made new friends, hit the gym regularly, partied a bunch, wrote for DIG magazine, and joined an on-campus media group (22 West Media) where I did a radio and digital internship. Unfortunately my educational experience was cut short due to the pandemic.

We all go a little mad sometimes…

Online courses had made me lose all motivation when it came to learning and adding to JTReviewsPlus. I didn’t learn as much from my studies since even some of my professors struggled to adapt to virtual learning. Finding the right balance between taking classes where we didn’t meet up on Zoom with ones that we did was tricky for me because I could never figure out which one made I preferred more. I was bored out of my mind and to combat that issue I played an absurd amount of video games and watched an unhealthy amount of shows and movies. I wasn’t proud of it but when I finally graduated I finally felt like myself again. I was employed at my old swim school (before I went away to CSULB) while I searched for a job in my career field. I fixed up my resume, tinkered with my LinkedIn, and searched all over the internet for a journalism position. I hadn’t gotten many responses and the companies I did hear back from thanked me for applying but ultimately told me they weren’t interested. That went on and on for what seemed like an eternity. At the beginning of 2022, I had gotten to the second stage of the interview process for a virtual staff writing position. At this point I had to write some pieces regarding movies and entertainment for them but sadly that was the end of the road for me. I was pretty upset about not landing that position because I not only felt like I gave it my all but I felt like my opportunities for actually becoming a soft news journalist were dwindling. I got to the point where I almost considered joining the military and/or following another career path entirely… but then I got an email and a call back from a local news station that changed everything.

You know the greatest danger facing us is ourselves, and irrational fear of the unknown. There is no such thing as the unknown. Only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood.

I did a few interviews, toured the station, got hired part time, trained in two positions, and am currently working as hard as I can to obtain a full time position. All of this to say I’m beyond thankful to be where I am at today through all the ups and downs before and after college. Currently I am working seven days a week, my two days off at the news station I work as a swim instructor to make some extra cash and help out my friends and employers who treat me well over there. I’ll do continue this work ethic as much as I’m able to until I get a full time position.

My short term goal (on top of going full time and improving in my positions) is to possibly start building a reel so I can maybe work towards become a personality in front of the camera in the future. The pursuit to join the entertainment industry is still ongoing but until then I will try and post to my JTReviewsPlus accounts every so often. I will not be able to post like before but I definitely do want to add more to my Youtube, WordPress, and possibly Instagram. If you read all the way until the end… thank you. Without all the compliments and feedback from people who checked out my stuff I wouldn’t have gotten to the point where I’m at now. Also sorry for keeping you in the dark for so long but this is everything you need to know about why I haven’t been posting all this time. For more content please follow me @JTReviewsPlus on all platforms.

Spartans never die… They are just missing in action.

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by jtreviewsplus

What Critics Are Saying About Sonic The Hedgehog

“Sonic Needs Jesus” is the title of a Youtube video made by content creator YongYea that perfectly exemplifies everyones reaction to the Sonic The Hedgehog movie reveal. The trailer, which garnered more than 180,000+ dislikes to 62,000+ likes (before deletion), was criticized for the title character’s appearance. In the video YongYea gave his reaction to the universally hated trailer as well as talk about what the studio could do to improve the look of the iconic video game character. Shortly after the April 2019 reveal, the director Jeff Fowler tweeted: “Thank you for the support. And the criticism. The message is loud and clear… you aren’t happy with the design & you want changes. It’s going to happen. Everyone at Paramount & Sega are fully committed to making this character the BEST he can be..” Sonic then got delayed until Valentines Day 2020 in order to redesign the blue hedgehog. As it stands right now Sonic The Hedgehog went from being a PR nightmare to an underdog story about a passionate filmmaking crew and studio that took critical feedback to heart. The following article covers what movie critics are saying about Sonic The Hedgehog as well as cover its performance at the box office so far.

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Side by side comparison of Sonic (April 2019) and the Sonic Redesign. – Image via The Verge.

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According to Forbes, Sonic is at the top of the box office earning a record breaking $21 million after its Thursday night preview and Friday ticket sales. Deadline states “The film can potentially score the best video game feature adaptation debut of all-time, with a 3-day of $53.99M and a 4-day of $64.3m, according to industry estimates this morning.” The article was written Saturday, February 15. Other sites such as The Hollywood Reporter are also predicting the film will hit $60 million dollars in its initial 4-day release. “If traffic holds, the family friendly pic has a strong shot of coming in several million dollars higher and unseating Detective Pikachu ($54.3 million) to boast the biggest domestic opening ever for a video game adaptation, according to Comscore and unadjusted for inflation,” said Pamela McClintock of The Hollywood Reporter.

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Image of Sonic from the new movie. – Image via Indywire.

Overall Consensus On Movie Itself

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While Sonic The Hedgehog isn’t the next Citizen Cane (nor did it intend to be) it is a well made flick with themes of friendship and adventure. Becoming ‘certified fresh’ on Rotten Tomatoes the consensus on the website states “Fittingly fleet and frequently fun Sonic The Hedgehog is a video game-inspired adventure the whole family can enjoy and a fine excuse for Jim Carrey to tap into the maniac energy that launched his career.” Many critics agreed that Jim Carrey’s performance was wild in the best way possible. “I liked the energy Jim Carrey brought to this movie,” says film critic Jeremy Jahns. “No one should be surprised that he is a standout here.” Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics wrote “Whatever message the movie might have is secondary to Carrey who dominates literally every moment he’s on screen, giving such an exaggerated, wacky performance, it makes Fire Marshall Bill look positively tame.”Jim Carrey isn’t the only aspect of the film that got praised. New York Post writer Johnny Oleksinski wrote “The movie is a lot better than it deserves to be. You’ll actually care about what happens to the prickly blue dude, even if you never cared about getting to zone seven… Sonic The Hedgehog is very much in conversation with Pokemon: Detective Pikachu.” IGN gave Sonic a 7 out of 10 stating “Sonic The Hedgehog is designed to please sonic fans and people of all ages.”

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Sonic after taking an accidental spill. – Image via Flickering Myth

Overall Sonic The Hedgehog is an entertaining action adventure filled with plenty of laughs that the whole family can enjoy. What started off as an early predicted box office flop became a film that might break the record for highest grossing and fastest grossing video game-inspired movie of all time. It’s a testament to the VFX crew and all the studios  involved in Sonic’s delay for fixing the “realistic interpretation” of the character. A design which saw him having teeth, no gloves, made him tall, freakishly skinny, and have human-like eyes that disgusted millions around the world. Although the film is far from perfect and isn’t winning awards anytime soon, it is a must see for fans of the genre or those who want to support studios that listen to fan criticism.

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by jtreviewsplus

Joker Review

Considered to be one of the greatest villains of all time, Joker is a character that has been adapted into many facets of media over the past 75+ years. There have been many different interpretations of the character that have had a lasting impact on geek culture. Joaquin Pheonix’s take on the Clown Prince of Gotham is nothing short of spectacular. It’s original while at the same time stays true to the characters roots despite it being an original story. Joker symbolizes a lot of real world themes as it tackles social issues in a way that flows smoothly. The messages don’t take away from the storytelling but instead provides a unique perspective into a complex character. Throw in amazing cinematography, music, and easter eggs into the mix and you have a film that continues to prove the superhero genre is no joke.

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Why So Serious?

Jack Nicholson portrayed Joker from the comics. Heath Ledger gave a gritty take on the character with an emphasis on being a brilliant but crazy crime lord. Joaquin Phoenix exemplified insanity to its highest extent thus far. Moviegoers follow Arthur Fleck as he attempts to fight depression and become a stand-up comedian. The odds are stacked against him due to his mental health issues and lack of connection he has with others. At times it can be hard to watch Fleck go through traumatic experiences because the scenes are executed perfectly. Beautiful cinematography, an intense score, and powerful emotions combined make Fleck’s journey tragically breathtaking. Joker is paced slower than the average superhero movie but that is what makes the important scenes more impactful. Although its R rating is warranted, the addition of more violence would’ve been welcomed. Most of the intense scenes involved conversations and plot twists. This isn’t to say there is no killing but its few and far between in the grand scheme of things. However, this isn’t a typical comic book movie so its completely understandable why the filmmakers made their decision.

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A Dark Realization

Gotham has always been a setting full of chaos and destruction in every DC iteration. Inhabitants try to make the best of it amidst all of its problems. Seeing Batman’s arch nemesis trying to have a normal life in this cruel world is unconventional. Unlike previous live action adaptations fans never got a standalone story for Joker until now. The reoccurring issue that makes this Joker standout is how society motivates his actions. It’s a result of the people around him that forces him to accept who he truly is, a psychopath. An intelligent one at that points out the flaws in humanity while causing mayhem. Quotes like “I used to think my life was a tragedy, but now I realize, it’s a comedy.” perfectly demonstrate how Fleck is losing touch with society. Seeing him embrace the madness of the world instead of trying to be someone who wants to improve it, makes this film all the more tragic. His original belief of bringing happiness and joy to the world becomes non existent by the film’s end. The depiction of it all is brilliantly revealed by director Todd Phillips. Arthur Fleck’s transformation into becoming the Joker was brilliant. However audiences mainly saw Fleck more than the iconic clown. Although Joker focuses on the character’s societal and mental health issues, some of the best moments were when he finally put on the makeup. Suffice to say some stuff is left to be desired while other aspects are fleshed out extremely well.

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Not So Hidden Easter Eggs

A movie about a character who is associated and just as popular as Batman must have some hidden secrets throughout the film. To many peoples surprise one Dark Knight easter egg is seen throughout a handful of scenes in Joker. It was an amazing inclusion because it reminded people that this is (to a certain extent) still a comic book movie without sacrificing realism. One can argue its inclusion stayed longer than it should’ve but it was used sparingly in multiple scenes that were far different than one another. It’s an addition that can definitely satisfy fans of the lore.

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Joker is an experimental piece of cinema. It was directed by someone who is best known for directing comedies, its a unique take on an already established character, and real life issues were seamlessly woven into the title character. Arthur Fleck’s obstacles of depression, mental health, loneliness, pain, and self-worth are delved further into when compared to past interpretations. When it comes to pacing, Joker is on the slower side but it allows for more progression and an immensely satisfying transformation into the iconic clown. While more violence and time as the Joker would’ve benefitted the film, it is still a must see movie of the year. I give Joker a 9 out of 10.

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For more reviews, news, reveals plus more follow me @JTReviewsPlus on Instagram, WordPress, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also subscribe on Youtube to watch more.

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by jtreviewsplus

Gears 5 MP Review

After re-upping in Gears 5’s multiplayer and putting in a significant amount of time into each mode I decided to review it. I don’t normally believe in doing partial reviews but due to time constraints I won’t have time to critique the campaign. I create youtube videos every so often to challenge myself and apply skills I learn in college. This is my latest video.

Please enjoy my review for Gears 5’s Multiplayer:

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by jtreviewsplus

John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum Video Review

Hey guys this is my first movie review on YouTube! I decided to create this for experience purposes. I wanted to see how long it would take me to do, what I could come up with creatively, and just to dabble in other forms of media. Please give me a like on the video if you enjoyed and share it with others who may be interested in the film. Thank you for the support and please enjoy.

For more content follow @JTReviewsPlus on Instagram, Facebook, and WordPress.

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by jtreviewsplus

Shazam Review

The DC Extended Universe continues to make strides at expanding their franchise in new and exciting ways. In Aquaman fans get to meet a plethora of characters and factions in Atlantis and in Shazam moviegoers are introduced to the world of magic. Although Justice League was the first DCEU movie to include humor (besides Suicide Squad) it felt out of place considering most of the movies before it were much more serious. The change in directors can also be blamed for JL’s lackluster performance in the box office, reception and overall tone. However Shazam’s comedic moments gave the movie a unique charm that was needed for a story that revolves around a kid turned superhero. Just the concept of Billy Batson and Shazam alone sounds challenging to adapt onto the big screen. However, Asher Angel and Zachary Levi put on a near flawless performance as their respective characters. Jack Dylan Grazer also gave a standout performance as Billy’s best friend and foster brother. Although on a smaller scale, Shazam was a fun movie that included many heartfelt scenes involving family and friendship.

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If A Kid Became A Superhero

Zachary Levi did a perfect job portraying a child who was given superhero abilities. He was charismatic, heroic and absolutely hilarious throughout the entire movie. None of the jokes ever seemed to be forced too. Every decision the character made felt like something a kid would actually do if given the opportunity. Some examples include Shazam testing his powers with his best friend, wanting to buy a secret lair, and saving citizens in need.

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When it was Billy Batson’s turn in the spotlight viewers got to see some hardships he goes through as a foster child. Although Shazam was filled with many laughs there were some deep meanings within the story that are relatable and heartfelt. Exchanges between Billy and his foster family demonstrate these themes extremely well. Even Shazam’s villain Dr. Sivana faced many real world problems. Mark Strong played a great antagonist seeking revenge to those who wronged him. Throughout the movie it was clear that many of the people who were apart of Sivana’s life didn’t see potential in him. He didn’t have friends and his own family despised him. Both stories showcase how this is a different kind of superhero movie.

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Self Aware

Similar to the horror movie Scream, Shazam is self aware and pokes fun at many of the tropes in its genre. It’s the perfect movie to do so as Billy Batson is trying to learn what it truly takes to become a superhero. With the help of his foster brother Freddy, they use their combined knowledge on all things superheroes in order to get a better understanding of how his powers work. Thankfully the execution of this concept never overstayed its welcome or felt out of place. Shazam never has an identity problem at any point in time which must be commended.

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The incredible acting by the entire cast, excellent humor, and self aware aspect of the movie help Shazam standout among many other movies in its genre. A well fleshed out villain goes a long way here and the hidden meanings within the film are touching. There are some interesting messages in regards to foster families and friendship. The origins of both Batson and Sivana are polar opposites of each other which makes their confrontations satisfying. Due to its smaller scale, Shazam can feel a little slow at times but overall it is one of the better movies in the DCEU in large part thanks to the buddy dynamic between Shazam and Freddy. The CGI looks great when following Shazam’s adventures but when it came to some of the mystical creatures it was a hit or miss at times. For all those reasons I give Shazam an 8.5 out of 10.

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I’d recommend Shazam to any comic book movie fan or superhero fan in general. For me I couldn’t stop laughing throughout the whole thing. I wanted to add more details about more of the emotional moments and surprised but that would’ve given away some spoilers that were kept hidden from the trailers. Share your thoughts on Shazam with me @JTReviewsPlus on Instagram, Facebook, WordPress! Be sure to follow me as well for more geeky content. Thank you for the support.

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by jtreviewsplus

Captain Marvel Review

The origin story for Carol Danvers was a great addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. None of the characters were hatable, combat was intense, and the plot expanded the MCU as we know it. However returning characters felt underutilized and there were many lore changes that seemed unnecessary. Despite Captain Marvel’s importance to future movies in the franchise, fans will undoubtedly wonder what comes after Avengers: Endgame. It may not be Captain Marvel‘s job to hint at the next big antagonist but her inclusion warrants it. An intergalactic alien fighting in a war that takes place across multiple galaxies deserves to be more fleshed out and explored. What we get is a safe entry in the Marvel mythos but it could’ve been much more.

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Taking Flight

“Higher, further, faster” was a tagline and quote that was used to amazing effect. Not only did this reference Captain Marvel’s piloting prowess but it also symbolized her willingness to keep pushing the boundaries by not limiting herself. Her decision making and powers that she acquired progressively improved throughout the movie. It was a nice character arc that was told through different moments in her life. This made the film standout among the other Marvel entries since a majority of those movies start off following our heroes before they obtain their powers. Here we see Captain Marvel accomplishing incredible feats in the beginning but then we also see her try to recover her memories as well as learn new abilities until the very end. The story was being told in a nonlinear way with flashbacks being one of the movie’s strengths. Danvers’s recollection of her past life was a journey that never overstayed it’s welcome. Brie Larson gave a solid performance as the main protagonist. She demonstrated charm, determination, and courage. While there were comedic moments that didn’t quite land, she did a decent job overall.

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The Kree and Skrull Conflict

One of Captain Marvel‘s biggest mistakes was the handling of the Kree and Skrull war. There were moments of enjoyment to be found in the battle scenes between the two alien races but they were much more condense than anticipated. Not every Marvel movie needs to be grand in scale but the war felt like more of a skirmish rather than something that is affecting the state of other civilizations. That being said, fans get a glimpse at some new planets. The Kree’s home world for example looked absolutely stunning. Their technology, the way they lived, and their army of warriors was something new which was interesting to see. Unfortunately the time spent their was short.  It was also the only location worth noting other than some sequences that had taken place on ships and laboratories. Captain Marvel is able to expand the MCU but it doesn’t accomplish it nearly as well as the movies before it. Not only that but the cameo of Thanos in GOTG demonstrated the high stakes in their origin movie that gave context to past and future films in the franchise. Ronin’s cameo was brief but unlike Thanos’s it wasn’t memorable nor did it add anything audiences needed to know about him or his place in the MCU. Both him and Agent Coulson should’ve been given more to do but it was still nice to see them on the big screen once again.

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Lastly the reasoning behind the war and the interpretation of the Skrulls in particular were disappointing. Ben Mendelson was a perfect Skrull but his personal side plot, while not bad in any way, completely rids away their role in the comics. What would’ve been a perfect segway into the next phase of the MCU is now either gone or unclear. Regardless they looked incredible and their shapeshifting powers were used to its fullest extent.

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Suit Up

Nick Fury is back and more comedic than before. His presence provided many great scenes with Danvers. Their chemistry was easily one of the better aspects of the film. Goose, Danvers’s cat, is also a surprising highlight of the movie. Captain Marvel’s best friend Maria was cool too. She was well written and her friendship brought some levity to Captain Marvel. Jude Law’s character was interesting but fell flat towards end. Finally Mar-vell was the least interesting of the bunch. Although Disney and Marvel Studios take some light inspiration from the source material (for almost all their films), here they seem to follow it even more loosely to Captain Marvel’s detriment. As a result Mar-vell turned out to be the worst character when it should’ve been the other way around. Mar-vell’s minor role is a departure from the source material which is a shame because similar to the Skrulls, a lot of potential and amazing storytelling opportunities were missed. Since they aren’t following Mar-vell’s Captain Marvel they could’ve had a Hank Pym and Scott Lang (Antman and Antman and The Wasp) passing of the torch situation. Unfortunately audiences are given little to no reason to care for the fate of Mar-vell.

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Captain Marvel was an enjoyable action comedy. There were some truly lighthearted and fun moments that are entertaining. Sadly it is balanced out with wasted potential. Plot points, character changes, and the overall smaller scale can be displeasing to long time Marvel fans. While the expansion of the lore is okay, it should’ve had more considering Captain Marvel’s importance to the franchise. The acting was top notch all around for the most part and the story was decent.  After watching Captain Marvel some may be left unsatisfied but the movie was far from horrible. I give Captain Marvel a 7.5 out of 10.

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My review may be vague at times but this is done to avoid spoilers. There were a couple of twists and changes from the source material that were not only unnecessary but lessened the quality of the film for me. Your score may be higher if you aren’t as invested into the franchise as I am but I made sure to mention and analyze many other aspects that I look for in all my movie reviews as well. If you found my review helpful, enjoyed the read, or want to checkout my other content then please follow me @JTReviewsPlus on Instagram, Facebook, WordPress, and you can subscribe to me on Youtube. I recommend this movie to all types of Marvel fans but if you are a comic purist or comic book traditionalist then you might not be able to look past some of the liberties taken. As for myself I love both the comics and MCU so I can look past some of the stuff but here some of the changes made the movie worse for me. Feel free to share your thoughts on Captain Marvel with me on social media. Thank you for the support!

 

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by jtreviewsplus

Alita: Battle Angel Review

Alita: Battle Angel is an ambitious anime/manga film adaption that manages to introduce the uninitiated to an unfamiliar world in many exciting ways. Having little knowledge about the source material, I still found myself in awe every time a new character, plot point, or setting was introduced. Every new piece of information regarding the lore of this futuristic dystopia was easy to follow yet satisfyingly entertaining. The relationship between Alita (Rosa Salazar) and Dr. Ido (Christoph Waltz) was a heartwarming aspect of the film that balanced out the action. Similar to the story, the CGI wasn’t excessive or unnecessary. The cybernetic enhancements and futuristic technology not only looked incredible but also helped tell a story about characters and the world around them. Moviegoers may clamor for more Alita: Battle Angel by the films end.

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All Star Lineup

One of the reasons Alita: Battle Angel’s world was interesting was because of its characters and actors whom portrayed them. Rosa Salazar put on a stellar performance as Alita. Her best moments came from times of naivety towards people she had either just met or had known for a short period of time. Alita’s good intentions are commendable but ultimately lead to questionable decisions. This was done to highlight her growth as a character and it absolutely paid off. She goes from being a curious and innocent teenage girl to a confident fighter that is determined to achieve her goals. Christoph Waltz’s Dr. Ido was a standout character. His reason for bringing Alita back was compelling. His actions throughout the movie, similar to Alita, were in the right place but he made similar mistakes that he learned from by the end. Hugo was Alita’s closest friend/love interest. He provided a lot of context to the audience via his conversations with her. Thankfully the exposition never seemed to drag out but the pairs romance could be a hit or miss at times. Vector, portrayed by Mahershala Ali, was a menacing antagonist for most of the film. Some may claim he was under utilized but there were a couple of different threats in the movie and he was by far the most memorable other than Grewishka. Grewishka was a cyborg Hunter Warrior played by Jackie Earle Haley. His gigantic appearance, claws, and voice easily made him the most memorable character of the movie (besides Alita of course). A similar statement can be made for Ed Skrein’s Zapan but to a lesser extent. Unfortunately Jennifer Connelly’s character Chiren was the least interesting character. Although she had redeeming qualities, it may be hard for some viewers to find sympathy for her.

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Identification Confirmed

Alita: Battle Angel is a passion project that was created by Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron. Cameron has had the rights to this franchise for many years and believed that now was the perfect time to release the movie. This has to be one of the wisest decisions he has made in quite awhile. Right now there aren’t too many movies to compete with it in theaters, the technology to build the world is more accessible now than ever before, and the popularity of anime/manga has become much more main stream. The filmmakers knew exactly what movie they were trying to create and it shows. Alita: Battle Angel never had an identity crisis or felt like two different movies at any point in time. Fighting sequences were brilliantly stylized and the story was grand yet not convoluted. There were never any side plots that came out of nowhere or overly distracted audiences from the main story. This must’ve been done in large part due to taking cues from the source material which I heard many fans appreciated. One of the problems in doing so however was their decision in using a couple of stories in one movie. It didn’t make the movie terrible or feel rushed by any means but it does present some structural problems. However the combination of a couple stories in one movie isn’t terribly noticeable. It never becomes apparent unless you examine the events that occur long and hard after you’ve watched it.

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Whether you are a fan of anime or science fiction in general, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had with Alita: Battle Angel. The cast of talented filmmakers and actors do a phenomenal job adapting this ambitious world to the big screen. The amount of action and great storytelling was present from start to finish. Relationships between characters, for the most part, were believably told. Alita’s story was large in scale but the information given to moviegoers throughout the 2 hr run time was truly impressive and easy to understand. Despite there being some pacing problems with multiple manga stories fitting into one movie, underutilized characters, and a hit or miss relationship between Alita and Hugo, Alita: Battle Angel is a triumph in its genre. Cameron and Rodriguez prove that manga has a place on the big screen. I give Alita: Battle Angel a 9 out of 10.

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I’d recommend this movie to anybody who loves action, science fiction, or anime. Share your thoughts on my review and Alita: Battle Angel with me @JTReviewsPlus on Instagram, Facebook, and WordPress. Follow me for reviews, reveals, news, plus a whole lot more.

 

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by jtreviewsplus

Why Detective Pikachu Looks Promising

The official trailer for Detective Pikachu has been released by Warner Bros. and it looks interesting to say the least.

Warner Bros, Legendary, and The Pokemon Company have collaborated to work on this film which stars Ryan Reynolds, Ken Wantanabe, and Justice Smith. It is set to release next year and with the trailer out I can safely say that it has the potential to be incredible. One could argue that everything has the potential to be great, but a majority of the Pokemon fanbase had mixed feelings when they first heard the news that Ryan Reynolds was casted as the voice of Pikachu. I being one of those people can wholeheartedly take back my negative reservations I had made previously. This movie appears to be a shockingly nice surprise that can lead to more Pokemon live-action movies if done well. Here are a few reasons why Detective Pikachu looks promising.

The Universe

The Pokemon universe is large with a vast cast of characters living amongst one another Pokemon and human alike. Detective Pikachu’s trailer starts off demonstrating this fact perfectly by showing residents of Ryme City walking on the streets with Pokemon all around them. You see bird type Pokemon in the air while you can see a Charmander and Dodrio walking amidst a large crowd of people. We also see Pikachu and our protagonists traveling through grassy/forest areas hinting at travel and discovery which the shows and games are known for. Fans also notice a Charizard in what looks like a ring or fighting arena. In the final shot Pikachu is seen attempting to dodge the same Charizard which can presumably mean that Pokemon duels/battles might appear on the big screen. If these trailers are only a small sample of what is to come then many fans of the series will lose their minds.

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The Appearance

Animation/CGI is extremely important when it comes to movies. Graphics aren’t everything but for certain movies it needs to be better than just okay. Detective Pikachu is a perfect example considering the variety of Pokemon’s color patterns, sizes, shapes, abilities, etc.  Not only that but a beloved classic such as this franchise deserves great looking Pokemon and the creatures here look amazing. The heights appear to be accurate and the looks are true to the originals which is just awesome fan service. Somehow the Pokemon here appear to look realistic in a way that isn’t too creepy or different from the classic designs which is a plus. Some of the fan art surrounding realistic Pokemon take some liberties and many of them actually look disturbing. Here the team that worked on the Pokemon did a great job on keeping the charm of the creatures while also making them look like they can actually exist in a living world.

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Story

The smartest move done by all the companies collaborating with one another is simply the plot. Detective Pikachu is loosely based on the 3DS game of the same name which was released in 2016. Although it will have many differences, it is a wise decision to not include the cast of the original series. Although fans and general audiences know of Ash, Misty, and Brock it is a smart move to introduce new characters because everyone doesn’t know what to expect. Not knowing what to expect can be a bad thing but if they went with the classic trio then expectations would be extremely high for the movie. Fans would judge whether the actors could do the role justice, question the storyline they want to tell with said characters as well as many other things. It would be easy to compare it to the other Pokemon movies and shows featuring the iconic characters made in the past decades. This choice allows for more creative freedom when it comes to storytelling and most importantly it is something new. The idea of a talking Pikachu has only been done twice, one being the game and the other in one of the more recent animated movies. However in that movie Pikachu only has one line of dialogue so by all accounts this is something that really hasn’t been done before which is exciting to see. Unraveling the mystery of why Pikachu can only be understood by one person, finding Tim’s father, and learning about why Tim’s views on Pokemon have changed (and how they will change) are more than enough plot points to satisfy moviegoers.

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Detective Pikachu looks like a fun ride first and foremost. As a fan and movie critic I cannot help but get excited about the potential this movie has. The appearance of the Pokemon themselves look impressive as well as the world the cast and crew are trying to build. The plot has many interesting ideas that will be awesome to watch unfold. Having completely new characters and a talking Pikachu voiced by Deadpool himself is unexpected in an absolutely delightful way. Fans are getting a new story in a world that looks like the one they are familiar with in a time where the franchise needs it most. If the film lives up to the hype of this trailer then everyone should expect a live action movie franchise. Although it may be long overdue it would be a fresh franchise for many audiences to fall in love and enjoy.

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Jigglypuff be like: Don’t sleep on this movie.

For more on Detective Pikachu and all things geeky be sure to follow me @JTReviewsPlus on Instagram and Facebook!

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by jtreviewsplus

My Top 5 Favorite Stan Lee Cameos

With the recent passing of Stan Lee I thought it would be the perfect time to honor/remember him by reflecting back at his famous cameos in cinema. Nobody could cameo in a more successful manner than one of the brilliant minds behind many classic Marvel characters (almost all of whom he cameoed for). The following are my top 5 favorite Stan Lee cameos.

5. Yelling Neighbor (Spider-Man Homecoming)

In this cameo Spider-Man accidentally prevents someone from getting into his car thinking the individual was trying to steal it. While attempting to stop the guy, he webs his hands and sets off the car alarm. In doing so he gets into an argument with him that catches the attention of others in the houses nearby. One of them is Stan Lee, who yells at the web slinger and also has a friendly conversation with one of the neighbors. The scene was funny and every time I watch it I always find myself smiling and laughing out loud without fail due to the delivery of the line and the quick change in attitude when his attention is away from Spider-Man.

Skip to 1:46 for the cameo:

4. Security Guard At The Museum (Captain America: Winter Soldier)

This isn’t the first time we see Stan Lee as a security guard but it’s definitely one of the funniest. In Winter Soldier, Captain America tells Falcon that he is going to wear something else besides street clothes before going to war against Hydra. A few seconds later we see Stan Lee appear on-screen exclaiming he’s going to be fired from his job. The camera then cuts to a mannequin that was displaying Steve Rogers original suit which is now missing said suit. Not only is the subtle tone in Stan Lee’s voice hilarious but the camera work and scenario for why the suit is missing makes the scene even funnier.

 

3. Story Time With The Watchers (Guardians of the Galaxy 2)

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 gives fans the most interesting concept for a Stan Lee cameo. In this cameo Stan Lee is in on another planet that Rocket and Yondu are passing by in hyperspace. Here he’s sitting down  having a conversation with The Watchers, powerful beings who simply view events that happen all over the galaxy from afar. Not only are The Watchers are introduced and look awesome but the conversation itself is Stan Lee telling them about his other cameos throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the end credits they leave him and he pleads for a lift back home thinking they were going to transport him. This is definitely one of the best cameos of all time despite being split into two short parts.

2. Stranger Giving Peter Parker Advice (Spider-Man 3)

Out of the 5 cameos on my list, this one involves no humor and for good reason. When Peter Parker is walking down the street and sees a sign at a theater regarding Spider-Man he bumps into a stranger. The stranger being Stan Lee of course, gives him words of advice that anyone can relate too. One of the shorter cameos, Peter Parker doesn’t have to say a word back in order see the impact the advice has on him. All of the Spider-Man cameos are memorable but this one cements itself as the best due to it being relatable, impactful, and different from the rest.

1. Strip Club MC (Deadpool)

The strip club MC takes the top spot on my list due to the absurdity and randomness of the cameo. Nobody would’ve assumed that a 90+ year old man (who created characters that were intended for families mind you) would have been introducing strippers at a club for a cameo. Although the movie is rated r, the cameo was just so un-Stan Lee like it was absolutely hysterical and out of place. For those two reasons it takes the number 1 spot on my list.

Honorable Mentions:

Some cameos that almost made it on my top 5 list include the veteran at the bar in Age of Ultron, FedEx delivery guy in Civil War, and uninvited guest for the Mr Fantastic and Invisible Woman’s wedding in Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Stan Lee is without a doubt one of the most creative minds in our lifetime. His creations stand in a similar lane to that of Walt Disney in the world of entertainment. Generations have and will continue to enjoy these characters for years to come. If there’s anything I’ve learned from him it was to never give up on my passion and to always be kind to others. His belief in positivity and passion for his craft can clearly be seen in his cameos. Rest in peace to a legend, gone but never forgotten.